Suspension Failure Likely to Blame for Trulli's Crash
Sunday July 11th, 2004
The Renault team said a suspected suspension failure had been the cause of Jarno Trulli's heavy accident during the British Grand Prix.
Trulli's crash was the spectacular moment of the race, the Italian walking away unhurt after his car was reduced to a steaming wreck.
The Renault snapped into the wall, spun rapidly and then flipped upside down into the gravel before coming to rest right way up with the barrier split and debris and a tyre in the middle of the track.
Trulli was taken to the medical centre as a precaution.
"It was a big accident but I gave the marshals the thumbs up straight away," said Trulli. "Everything happened very quickly, but I think it was a rear suspension failure. However, we will only be able to confirm that when we get back to the factory.
"Even before the crash, though, things were not going well. I was very heavy in the first two stints but even taking that into account, I was struggling to be quick. The car was tricky to drive, and I had trouble holding position."
The British race marked the second time this year that Renault failed to score a point after Fernando Alonso finished down in 10th position.
"I think we could have done better today but we missed the opportunity to pit straight after Jarno's accident," said the Spaniard. "We only had two corners in which to react, but we didn't manage to - otherwise, I could have been in the points." |
